Arrest records are public in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66, § 10, commonly known as the Massachusetts Public Records Law. This statute establishes that governmental records, including arrest records, are presumptively public unless specifically exempted by law. The Commonwealth's commitment to transparency extends to records maintained by both state agencies and local governmental entities within Plymouth County, including the Plymouth County Sheriff's Department and municipal police departments. Members of the public may access these records to ensure accountability in law enforcement operations and to obtain information about criminal activity within their communities.
The Massachusetts Public Records Law defines public records broadly to include all documentary materials made or received by any officer or employee of the Commonwealth, regardless of physical form or characteristics. Arrest records fall within this definition and are therefore accessible to any person upon request, subject to certain statutory exemptions that may apply to protect ongoing investigations or personal privacy in specific circumstances.
Plymouth County arrest records can be accessed online through several authorized platforms maintained by governmental agencies. Pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66, § 10(a), which encourages electronic access to public records, the Commonwealth has implemented digital systems to facilitate public access to arrest information. The Plymouth Police Department maintains public logs of arrests that can be accessed through their official website.
The Massachusetts Trial Court has also established electronic access systems that allow the public to search for court records related to arrests. These systems are designed in accordance with the Supreme Judicial Court's Uniform Rules on Public Access to Court Records, which govern the availability of court documents, including those pertaining to arrests and subsequent judicial proceedings.
Online access to arrest records is subject to certain limitations established by law to protect privacy interests and the integrity of ongoing investigations. Records that have been sealed or expunged pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 276, § 100A-C are not available through online platforms or other means of public access.
Multiple methods are available for obtaining Plymouth County arrest records, as prescribed by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66, § 10. Interested parties may utilize the following procedures to access these public documents:
Submit a formal public records request to the Plymouth County Sheriff's Department located at 24 Long Pond Road, Plymouth, MA 02360. Requests may be submitted in person during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM), by mail, or via electronic submission.
Contact the specific municipal police department where the arrest occurred. For example, the Plymouth Police Department is located at 20 Long Pond Road, Plymouth, MA 02360, and can be reached at (508) 830-4218 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM).
Access the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access system, which provides information about court cases resulting from arrests in Plymouth County. This system allows searches by name, case number, or other identifiers.
Visit the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office at 166 Main Street, Brockton, MA 02301, during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM) to request information about prosecutions resulting from arrests.
Utilize the Plymouth County Correctional Facility inmate lookup system for information about individuals currently in custody following arrest. The facility is located at 26 Long Pond Road, Plymouth, MA 02360, and can be reached at (508) 830-6200.
Pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66, § 10(a), records custodians must respond to requests within 10 business days. Fees for copies of records may be assessed in accordance with § 10(d) of the same chapter, but may not exceed the actual cost of reproducing the records.
Plymouth County arrest records contain standardized information as required by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 276, § 33, and regulations established by the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division. These records typically include the following elements:
The comprehensiveness of arrest records may vary depending on the arresting agency and the circumstances of the arrest. Records maintained by the Plymouth County Sheriff's Department typically contain more detailed information than those maintained by municipal police departments due to their role in operating the county correctional facility.
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 276, § 100E-K establishes the legal framework for expungement of arrest records in Plymouth County. Expungement provides for the permanent erasure or destruction of records, making them unavailable to the public and to most governmental agencies. This process differs from sealing records, which merely restricts access while maintaining the physical existence of the records.
Eligibility criteria for expungement in Plymouth County include:
The expungement petition process requires:
The Plymouth County District Court is located at 52 Obery Street, Plymouth, MA 02360, and accepts expungement petitions during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM).
Pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 276, § 100K, if expungement is granted, the subject of the expunged record may respond to any inquiry as though the arrest never occurred, with limited exceptions for certain governmental and licensing agencies.